AFC South Notes: Colts, Texans, Titans

Colts

• While Colts GM Chris Ballard has said that he wouldn’t want to move back much further than their No. 6 overall pick, Mike Wells of ESPN writes that it’s possible this could change, depending on how things play out in the first five picks of the draft.
• If one of the top-four quarterbacks fall to the Colts, Ballard would have the leverage to negotiate another favorable trade to pick up even more draft assets to continue building the team’s core.
• Even so, Wells isn’t convinced that Ballard would pass on either Bradley Chubb or Quenton Nelson if they’re still on the board at No. 6 overall.

Texans

• A few days ago, a report surfaced that the Texans and OLB Jadeveon Clowney are “close” to an agreement on a long-term extension. (NFLTR)
• However, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle, citing league sources, reports that the Texans and Clowney’s representatives have not opened formal contract negotiations and no deal is considered imminent at this point in time.
• Even so, the Texans and Clowney’s reps reportedly spoke at the Combine and are “on the same page about a mutual desire to extend their business relationship on a long-term basis during this offseason.“
• Wilson adds that it’s regarded as a “matter of when, not if” a deal gets done.

Titans

There has been a lot made about the Titans’ ownership structure in the past few years. The NFL actually imposed a $250,000 fine for not meeting the requirements regarding their ownership structure.

However, NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk that they’re “very comfortable” with the direction of the team and they’re working to resolve any outstanding issues regarding the franchise.

“We are very comfortable with the direction of the team,” McCarthy said. “The team is well managed by Amy Adams Strunk and has strong leadership in place with executives such as Steve Underwood. The team is very committed to the community and has tremendous momentum on the field as a playoff team last year and a new coach for this season. League staff is working with the club and the finance committee to resolve any outstanding issues.”

The NFL wants teams to have one controlling owner, as opposed to multiple shared interests in a team. Former Titans owner Bud Adams split the team up in thirds before Amy Adams Strunk managed to gain controlling interest in the team.

Florio writes that it appears as though Strunk agreed to a deal with Adams’ daughter-in-law Susan Lewis to gain controlling interest in the team with an agreement eventually hand it over to Kenneth Adams IV.

The Titans are still reportedly interested in selling a third of the team to an investor and Florio reports that some potential buyers have been interested, with at least one coming very close to closing the deal. However, no agreement has been reached, which Florio speculates could be due to the fact that there’s no path to control of the franchise.